The Central Coast really shows off when you get a bit of height. From salty headlands to sprawling hinterland, we’re continually astounded by her natural beauty, and the best way to drink it all in is from one of the many beautiful lookouts on the Central Coast. Some days you just need to get a glimpse of the bigger picture – somewhere with an epic view doesn’t hurt.
We’ll never get tired of this place. There’s nothing like standing on a headland knowing that this is your backyard.
The best views on the Central Coast aren’t hidden. They’re just slightly uphill! So if you’re chasing the best lookouts on the Central Coast, these are our top 12.
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Best Lookouts on the Central Coast
The Skillion, Terrigal
Let’s start with the icon. Equal parts punishment and payoff, The Skillion is the leg-day workout we always forgive, because the view from the top is absolutely worth it.
Sure, tackling the stairs can be gruelling – there’s a reason this hill is often used for group fitness training sessions – but spend a few minutes at the top and you’ll get why it’s become a Coastie ritual. During May to November you might catch a glimpse of a whale cruising along the “Humpback Highway”.
Hot tip: sunrise is magic – easy parking and less people.
Captain Cook Lookout, Copacabana
Avoca is photogenic from every angle, but especially from this wonderful lookout perched above Copa, where you can see across Terrigal and Macmasters, too. It’s super easy to access and a popular spot as the sun goes down, so expect a few cars parked up there.
Bring something warm – the wind has a habit of cutting through whatever you’re wearing.
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Allen Strom Lookout, Killcare
Overlooking the boats moored in Hardys Bay, right across to Wagstaffe and Ettalong, Allen Strom Lookout has scenic views aplenty.
Part of the Daleys Ridge circuit (around 6.8km if you’re doing the full loop), the bushland here is thick and beautiful, and the walk offers a glimpse of unique Aboriginal cultural heritage with sandstone engravings at Milligans Cave (Fish Hook Shelter). It’s a good reminder that these landscapes hold far older stories than ours.
Top Lookouts in Bouddi National Park
Basically a choose-your-own-adventure of ridiculous views, Bouddi National Park is a popular way to take in the wild coastline and pristine beaches of the Central Coast.
Lobster Beach Lookout, Wagstaffe
With so many stunning lookouts around Box Head, it can be hard to pick just one. Fortunately, the Flannel Flower walking track provides a good connection to many of them and can be covered in around 45 – 90 mins (return). We love Lobster Beach lookout for its spectacular views across Umina, though recommend the local tip of parking near the corner of High View Rd and Venice Rd in Wagstaffe to visit. There you can find a set of stairs leading over a hill and onto Lobster Beach in about 15-20 minutes.
Gerrin Point Lookout, Bouddi
The best way to cover all the top lookout spots along this beautiful stretch of coast is to take the 8.5km Bouddi Coastal Walk, which delivers you from one impossibly beautiful viewing point to the next via a schmick combination of boardwalks, white-sandy beaches and trails. And while there are several standouts, we reckon Gerrin Point is the pick of the lot. The views are second to none, with the Pacific stretching out in front of you and the gorgeous turquoise of Maitland Bay up ahead.
Easy Access Lookouts on the Central Coast
Crackneck Point Lookout, Wyrrabalong National Park
Another beautiful and lofty coastal lookout is the popular Crackneck Lookout. It sits high above Bateau Bay and Forresters Beach, with wide open views and enough space to spread out on the grassy tiers. With easy car access at the top, it’s one of the Coast’s most accessible big-view lookouts. The upgraded benches and picnic tables make it ideal for families or low-effort romantic moments, and there’s a carpark at the top.
Perfect for a picnic, or you can join the Coast Walking Track (3km, 1.5 hours) and turn it into a proper bushwalk. A popular spot to watch hang gliders taking off, with a launching strip on the southern edge of the lookout. It’s also a stone’s throw to the other great lookout points at Cromarty Hill and Bateau Beach Viewing Area.
READ FURTHER: Crackneck Lookout’s Upgrade is Complete
Staples Lookout, Brisbane Water National Park
Offering expansive views of Brisbane Water, Woy Woy Bay and even Mount Wondabyne, this is one of the quieter lookouts on the Central Coast, less dramatic cliffs and more slowing down, taking it all in. It’s also popular for the things you can see up close, including rare birds like the yellow-tailed black cockatoo and spotted-tail quolls.
Norah Head Lighthouse, Norah Head
You can’t talk Central Coast lookouts without mentioning Norah Head Lighthouse. Instantly recognisable, the white lighthouse is super photogenic, especially against those turquoise bays below. There’s a small carpark nearby, or you can take the Headland Nature Trail from Bush Street for a gentle bushwalk. We like to order takeaway from the Norah Head Beach Haus and take it up with us to enjoy with a view.
Keen to stretch your legs? Head down the stairs and continue the loop, walking north along the beach and exploring the many rockpools on your way.
YOU MIGHT LIKE: 9 of the prettiest Central Coast rock pools
Best Views on the Central Coast
Warrah Lookout, Patonga
Half-way along the bushwalk between Pearl Beach and Patonga, Warrah Lookout is the perfect little reward stop, with picturesque views over the winding waterways of the Hawkesbury. Dramatic in a completely different way to our open-ocean lookouts.
If you’re driving from Ettalong’s direction, be sure to swing past Mount Ettalong Lookout for a brilliant angle over Pearl Beach and across Box Head and Broken Bay.
RELATED: The Top 10 Central Coast Walks For a Nature Hit
Snapper Point Lookout, Munmorah State Conservation Area
Right on the edge of Frazer Park, Snapper Point is home to one of the northern Central Coast’s more rugged lookouts. There’s a proper carpark at the end of Snapper Point Road and a fenced platform overlooking a huge inlet, the Frazer blowhole and a dramatic sea cave carved into the cliffs below. It’s seriously impressive when the swell’s up.
From the lookout, it’s only a short walk down towards the shoreline. Follow the track past the lifebuoy and you’ll reach Snapper Point Beach, but the water can be unpredictable around here – so check weather, tides and NSW NPWS if you’re planning to explore. Too windy? You’ll still get the full view from the car.
Colin Watters Lookout, Kincumba Mountain
A personal fave of ours, this lookout somehow gives you ocean, valley and bushland in one sweep. The lush green depths of Picketts Valley make way to the glittering expanse shoreline of Avoca and Terrigal. It links to fire trails popular with hikers and mountain bikers, so you’ll usually see a few locals getting their steps in.
Hot tip: sunset is elite here – the light hits the valley and the ocean at the same time, and the whole landscape shifts colour.
Ouraka Lookout, Rumbalara Reserve
Tucked above East Gosford, Ouraka Lookout at the top of Rumbalara gives you a leafy framed outlook over Brisbane Water and Gosford – sweeping district views covering rooftops, ridgelines and waterways.
It’s a popular walking and mountain biking reserve, but it never feels busy. And if you’ve been watching Gossy’s glow up over the past few years, this is arguably the best vantage point to track the progress of that shifting skyline.
These are some of the best lookouts on the Central Coast, but they’re also shared spaces. Stick to marked tracks, take your rubbish with you, keep an eye on weather conditions before heading out – and take photos, but then put the phone down for a little bit when you get there.
KEEP READING:
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Thinking About Camping on the Central Coast? Start Here
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